title: The complex epidemiological scenario of West Nile virus in Italy.
abstract: Entomological, veterinary, and human surveillance systems for West Nile virus (WNV) infection have been implemented in Italy since the first detection of the virus in 1998. These surveillance activities documented a progressive increase of WNV activity and spread in different regions and the emergence of new WNV lineages and strains. Italy is a paradigmatic example of the complex epidemiology of WNV in Europe, where sporadic cases of WNV infection, clusters, and small outbreaks have been reported in several regions. In addition, different strains of both WNV lineage 1 and lineage 2 have been identified, even co-circulating in the same area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padova, Italy. luisa.barzon@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzon
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacenti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Squarzon
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavezzo
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattai
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cusinato
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*